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EAST COAST AREA
OLD GAFFERS
The Old Gaffers Association

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Blogs

Gwenili return to the OGA fleet
More about the Gwenili restoration. (3-9-08)


The Quintet Voyage
If you want to know ALL the details of an OGA long distance voyage, blow by blow,
have a dip into Les Sutcliffes electonic log from Quintet's Voyage all around England in 2005.
www.2oldgitsinaboat.co.uk


Dylan Winter Sails Around Great Britain!
Keep Turning Left...
Gaffers sailing an armchair in this terrible summer weather may like to get a daily shot of what it is really like if you go out on the sea in a small boat. Dylan learnt sailing at Brightlingsea and Woolverstone and now sails a little 19ft triangle. You may have heard some of his excellent work on Radio 4 where he pops up all over the place....
http://uk.youtube.com/user/KeepTurningLeft


The ongoing rebuild of Gwenili by Martin Goodrich
7-7-2008
Richard has suggested an up date on progress on Gwenili's restoration informing me that I'm now a blog, amongst other things! so here's a quick response.
Well she's went back in the water at Southdock on Monday June 30th and I am very much hoping to attend the Southwold Rally. So that's my target, but we all know what happens to targets so we shall see. I have completed all the work I set out to do.
It has taken 30 weekends +5 days of holiday = some-1300 man hours I won't mention costs. I have now to refit the interior re- ballast and tweak the rigging. And on return to Brightlingsea I will endeavor to replace the sails and increase her sail area from 65 msq to 95msq. Please see attached photos of finished work and lift in. Kind Regards to all OGA's
Martin


27-5-2008
Dear OGA Friends,
I am prompted to write because an over ambitious restoration work has delayed Gwenili's return to her home port in Brightlingsea. Sadly the consequence is that we have missed all the May OGA programme and also it looks like early June too, but I am hoping to be there for the East coast race. To the good organisers my apologies, particularly as I have a Mug that should have been returned, sorry.


Currently Gwenili is in South Dock London which is very convenient for my London address. The work list started in a modest way but soon expanded as these things tend to do. for the curious here is the list.

Starting with a winter sail from Brightlingsea to Trinity buoy Wharf on London's with Barry and Graham river waiting for the tide at Holehaven caught a fisherman's buoy and rope around the prop, sail off on the turn of the tide wind dropped away we drifted on towards Mucking sands decided to put her aground to free the prop. had an interesting Nov 5th watching the fire works from the river.

Got away 10 hours later to my hopeful cheap winter haul out and berth at Trinity Buoy Wharf which unfortunately proved all to costly to arrange a lift out so escaped to South Dock who thankfully let me in.

My intention was to get a full condition survey for which I completely striped out all the internal gear 3 large van loads and watched with surprise as she rose from her waterline by 6 inches so I am determined that most won't go back. The survey proved fine for the hull but not so good for the spars the mizzen and gaff were condemned the Mast given 2 more seasons. Set up the humidifier to dry her out which helped with treating the wood Started with a strip off of all the paint below the water line to bear wood exposed weak timbers and the need to refasten and weak garboard seams all now repaired.


striped off all the old deck of 98 years of failed water proofing systems exposed large sections of the covering board port and starboard that needed replacing also the rail was rotten which were removed to create better access to do the deck. Sanded off the deck, removed all the old tar and defective caulking. replaced, hardened up the seams and filled with hot marine glue(tar) what a nightmare!

Scraped off the surplus hot iron the seams to just below deck level and re-sanded finished with epoxy coating sanded and applied Uroxsys Marine Varnish in 6 coats its got a very long life. Had a bit of luck with the Varnish. I had intended to finish with Coelan but cost was to much, found out about Uroxsys which is the same as, made contact with the manufacturer in NZ who offered enough to do my boat in return for receiving 50 liter + for distribution free to interesting projects in the Uk. So I now have this varnish to offer to likely projects free if you want to get in touch I can distribute, all you are required to do is comment on your experience .


I am now remaking the rail in teak, trying steam bending, replaced the side planks and commissioned new galvanised supports and moved the stay fitting by .5 m out along the bowsprit ,thanks to Ric I have moved on to the Painting top sides and exterior cabins etc. I decided because of budget to repair all my spars with fillets and epoxy all to be and extended them for larger sail area, all finished in the wonder solution Uroxsys. Leaving me now to thinking about putting it all back. and planing my return to home waters.

I have even commissioned new sails but I am not sure that Mark has even made a start on them yet! we shall see. I have attached some photos of the work in progress. To be frank its been a massive undertaking every weekend and days stolen from work, every job seems to have grown and taken at least twice as long than as planned. But I gusses you experienced restorers of the East Coast know that all along, what do you expect with a boat of nearly a 100 years old but I had to do it myself to find out the hard way. See you all on East coast. But will she sail any better!
Kind regards
Martin


We would be pleased to look at any material you may have for our new site
Please E-mail richard@marketingoverflow.com


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The Old Gaffers Association